Feeding practices in typically developing children in three districts of Telangana – A survey study

Abstract Purpose: This study was designed to investigate and compare the feeding practices across three districts of Telangana and across the rural and urban populations. Materials and Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional survey. A survey tool was developed to assess the feeding practices, which included items related to the hierarchy of food types introduced to infants, their consistency, the age of introduction of various foods, utensils used, and position used to feed the infants. The survey tool was validated by experienced speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Ninety mothers of children in the age range of 1–3 years (30 mothers from each district—Hyderabad, Warangal, and Bhuvanagiri) were included as participants. The survey tool was administered online. Results: This study revealed that there were a few clear differences, as well as some areas of similarity in feeding practices like position used while feeding, age of introduction of complementary food, and type of consistency used across different districts and rural and urban populations. Conclusion: The findings of this study will facilitate an open approach for ethno-cultural inclusivity/sensitivity among the practicing SLPs during the assessment and intervention of young children with feeding issues from these districts.